Much Loved - Photographs by Mark Nixon

Award-winning photographer Mark Nixon has created a trove of quirky and nostalgic portraits of teddy bears and other stuffed animals that have been lovingly abused through years of play. He got the idea after seeing how attached his son was to his Peter Rabbit—he squeezed it when he was excited, buried his nose in it while sucking his thumb, and had to sleep with it every night. Seeing this unconditional bond and the resulting affectionate wear and tear reminded Nixon of his own beloved childhood stuffed animal Panda.